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The Bournemouth International Centre (commonly known as the BIC ) in
At opening, it comprised two halls, the Windsor Hall and the Tregonwell Hall as well as a leisure swimming pool which has since been closed to provide further conference and exhibition space.
The venue's Windsor Hall has a concert capacity of nearly 4,100 and is one of the bigger indoor music venues in the UK, often included on the arena tours of major artists. This hall has the largest tensile grid in Europe – a tensioned mesh comprising 30 miles of steel wire hung above the stage which can suspend approximately 90 tonnes of weight.
In 1990, the circular Purbeck Hall was added at a cost of £6 million.
The Solent Hall can house exhibitions or hold up to 2,000 people for standing music concerts. As part of a refurbishment costing £22 million, this hall controversially replaced the popular swimming pool and wave machine in 2004 after an unsuccessful campaign to save the facility.
Managed by social enterprise BH Live in partnership with
Bournemouth International Conference Bureau
Buildings and structures in Bournemouth Indoor arenas in England Exhibition and conference centres in England Darts venues Tourist attractions in Bournemouth 1984 establishments in England Sports venues completed in 1984 {{England-sports-venue-stub
Bournemouth
Bournemouth () is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area of Dorset, England. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 183,491, making it the largest town in Dorset. It is situated on the Southern ...
, Dorset
Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...
, was opened in September 1984. It is one of the largest venues for conferences, exhibitions, entertainment and events in southern England. Additionally, it is well known for hosting national conferences of major British political parties and trade unions.
In June 2022, it was announced that the building would undergo a £1.8 million refurbishment.
Conferences
The BIC has hosted national conferences of political parties and trade unions. Neil Kinnock attacked the militant tendency in 1985 andMargaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. S ...
made her last conference speech in 1990. In 2019, the BIC hosted the Liberal Democrats conference.
Venues
At opening, it comprised two halls, the Windsor Hall and the Tregonwell Hall as well as a leisure swimming pool which has since been closed to provide further conference and exhibition space.
The venue's Windsor Hall has a concert capacity of nearly 4,100 and is one of the bigger indoor music venues in the UK, often included on the arena tours of major artists. This hall has the largest tensile grid in Europe – a tensioned mesh comprising 30 miles of steel wire hung above the stage which can suspend approximately 90 tonnes of weight.
In 1990, the circular Purbeck Hall was added at a cost of £6 million.
The Solent Hall can house exhibitions or hold up to 2,000 people for standing music concerts. As part of a refurbishment costing £22 million, this hall controversially replaced the popular swimming pool and wave machine in 2004 after an unsuccessful campaign to save the facility.
Managed by social enterprise BH Live in partnership with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is a unitary local authority for the district of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in England that came into being on 1 April 2019. It was created from the areas that were previously administered by ...
, the BIC is operated alongside its sister venue, The Pavilion Theatre and Ballroom.
See also
* Pavilion Theatre and Ballroom *List of venues in the United Kingdom
There are many venues in the United Kingdom where a variety of national and international sport, musical and entertainment acts perform.
Stadiums and festivals
Indoor arenas
* AO Arena, Manchester – 21,000
* The O2 Arena, London 20,000 ...
References
External links
Bournemouth International Conference Bureau
Buildings and structures in Bournemouth Indoor arenas in England Exhibition and conference centres in England Darts venues Tourist attractions in Bournemouth 1984 establishments in England Sports venues completed in 1984 {{England-sports-venue-stub